Vanguard Growth ETF (VUG) belongs to the Large Cap Growth Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with VUG. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to VUG
VUG charges 0.03% annually. No ETFs in the Large Cap Growth Equities category have lower expense ratios; the lowest-cost alternatives shown here go as low as 0.03%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Morningstar U.S. Equity ETF | 0.03% | 1.26B | Jun 2004 | VUG vs ILCB | |
| Invesco PureBeta MSCI USA ETF | 0.04% | 11.34B | Sep 2017 | VUG vs PBUS | |
| iShares Morningstar Growth ETF | 0.04% | 3.21B | Jun 2004 | VUG vs ILCG | |
| State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 0.04% | 52.13B | Sep 2000 | VUG vs SPYG | |
| iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 0.04% | 32.19B | Jul 2000 | VUG vs IUSG |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to VUG
VUG has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 27. There are 120 ETFs in the Large Cap Growth Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 90.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor U.S. Equity ETF | 90 | 267.72M | Aug 2017 | VUG vs MFUS | |
| Inspire 100 ETF | 89 | 495.57M | Oct 2017 | VUG vs BIBL | |
| MarketDesk Focused U.S. Momentum ETF | 88 | 170.29M | Mar 2025 | VUG vs FMTM | |
| Grizzle Growth ETF | 88 | 33.20M | Dec 2021 | VUG vs DARP | |
| Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF | 88 | 656.33M | Feb 2015 | VUG vs ROUS |
Top Performing VUG Alternatives (YTD)
VUG is at 2.25% YTD. There are 144 ETFs in the Large Cap Growth Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 49.54%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMART Earnings Growth 30 ETF | 49.54% | 50.41M | Aug 2025 | VUG vs SGRT | |
| Roundhill Meme Stock ETF | 48.23% | 26.18M | Oct 2025 | VUG vs MEME | |
| Franklin Intelligent Machines ETF | 37.46% | 117.69M | Feb 2020 | VUG vs IQM | |
| Invesco S&P 500 Pure Growth ETF | 34.97% | 2.27B | Mar 2006 | VUG vs RPG | |
| MarketDesk Focused U.S. Momentum ETF | 32.56% | 170.29M | Mar 2025 | VUG vs FMTM |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to VUG
VUG has 16.85% 1-year volatility. There are 110 ETFs in the Large Cap Growth Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.55%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Alternative ETF | 7.55% | 39.10M | May 2017 | VUG vs CCOR | |
| SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF | 9.16% | 1.50B | Apr 2015 | VUG vs QUS | |
| Invesco Dividend Achievers™ ETF | 9.45% | 774.52M | Sep 2005 | VUG vs PFM | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | 9.49% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | VUG vs DGRO | |
| T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth ETF | 9.73% | 1.36B | Aug 2020 | VUG vs TDVG |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to VUG
VUG has a 1-year max drawdown of -16.53%. There are 143 ETFs in the Large Cap Growth Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -5.45%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RiverFront Dynamic US Dividend Advantage ETF | -5.45% | 85.26M | Jun 2016 | VUG vs RFDA | |
| Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF | -5.97% | 656.33M | Feb 2015 | VUG vs ROUS | |
| PIMCO RAFI Dynamic Multi-Factor U.S. Equity ETF | -6.39% | 267.72M | Aug 2017 | VUG vs MFUS | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | -6.47% | 41.89B | Jun 2014 | VUG vs DGRO | |
| SPDR MSCI USA StrategicFactors ETF | -6.85% | 1.50B | Apr 2015 | VUG vs QUS |
Other ETFs from Vanguard
The 10 most viewed Vanguard ETFs shown here include VOO, VTI, VGT and span 8 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $2T.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 63 | 8.09% | 1.70T | Sep 2010 | VUG vs VOO | |
| Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF | Large Cap Blend Equities | 64 | 8.90% | 2.30T | May 2001 | VUG vs VTI | |
| Vanguard Information Technology ETF | Technology Equities | 60 | 22.82% | 170.10B | Mar 2004 | VUG vs VGT | |
| Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | Global Equities | 62 | 13.40% | 652.30B | Jan 2011 | VUG vs VXUS | |
| Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Global Equities | 65 | 10.43% | 95.30B | Jun 2008 | VUG vs VT | |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF | Dividend | 83 | 12.09% | 96.10B | Nov 2006 | VUG vs VYM | |
| Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF | Total Bond Market | 36 | 1.01% | 394.40B | Apr 2007 | VUG vs BND | |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF | Dividend | 61 | 7.42% | 127.80B | Apr 2006 | VUG vs VIG | |
| Vanguard Value ETF | Large Cap Value Equities | 91 | 16.08% | 245.00B | Jan 2004 | VUG vs VTV | |
| Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Foreign Large Cap Equities | 65 | 14.71% | 317.30B | Jul 2007 | VUG vs VEA |
Often Compared With VUG
Investors most often compare VUG with QQQ, SCHG, FSPGX. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare VUG with Any Fund or Stock
Compare VUG with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair VUG with funds that move differently
Vanguard Growth ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to VUG.
Explore VUG Diversifiers